Alton Ultralight Camping Hammock Set – Reviewed & Tested

Anna had a tough gig: putting Alton’s complete Ultralight Hammock Set to the test. A bug-proof, weather-proof floating bed in the sky.

When I started at We Are Explorers over three years ago, it was a whirlwind first few weeks. With the team all based remotely around the country, I was glad (if not a little terrified) to learn that the annual team trip was coming up, and in a week or so I was going to be dumped on the side of a river with nine complete strangers and left to fend for ourselves as we white water canoed our way down the Boyd River in Northern NSW. 

I thought of myself as fairly outdoorsy, but pretty quickly realised my naivety. 

I learnt a few things and dispelled quite a few ‘facts’ on that wild river adventure, including: 

1. ‘A tent is just a fancy tarp’ – My Dad circa 1999
2. ‘Sleeping mats are an unnecessary luxury’ (yup you guessed it, Dad’s advice)
3. Hammocks are just horizontal mesh chairs you enjoy on island holidays 

Sinking into some bug-protected goodness

So, why am I the right person for this review?

That day, three years ago, I looked on in awe, as my boss set up his sleep system between two trees, and thought to myself… What is this genius, and why don’t I own one?!

It was a Hennessy Hammock, designed specifically for camping out, and he’d used it all through Australia as he bike toured here from England.

So, I needed to find out if it lived up to my expectations, and if a night swinging softly in the breeze under the starry skies was just as idyllic as it looked. 

I’ve also got a great resting concentration face

I already owned (and loved) Alton’s Ultralight Hammock, and was sent the full sleep set to review. Weighing in at just 1.4kg and packing away into three tiny little bags, the full set-up takes up less room and weighs about 500g less than my current lightweight tent. 

Here’s my two cents for other tree-lovers keen to spend a night like an uber comfy monkey. 

Quick Specifications

Deep breath, as there are a few parts to this system. Each part is available independently, but if you buy it as a bundle, you’ll save about 8%.

Buy Hammock Camping Set

Ultralight Hammock

• Dimensions: 280cm × 146cm
• Packed dimensions: 19.5cm × 9.5cm × 9.5cm
• Material: Hexagonal Grid Ripstop Nylon
• Capacity: 300kg
• Packed weight: 340g

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Ultralight Tarp

• Dimensions: 300cm x 300cm
• Packed dimensions: 22cm x 10cm x 13cm
• Material: Ripstop Nylon
• Waterproofing: 3000mm Silicone/PU
• Tarp weight: 590g
• Total packed weight: 830g (including paracord, guy lines, clips, prussiks, and pegs)

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Ultralight Hammock Bug Net

• Dimensions: 290cm × 125cm
• Packed dimensions: 19.5cm × 11cm × 11cm
• Material: Noseeum micromesh
• Packed weight: 275g

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Ultralight Straps

• Dimensions: 275cm x 2.5cm (with 25 loops)
• Packed dimensions: 13cm x 3.1cm x 8.7cm
• Material: UHMWPE (Dyneema – but not that brand)
• Capacity: 300kg
• Packed weight: 106g

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Design

The hammock and bug net are incredibly easy to set up, not that I feel like doing that often. It’s lived in a semi-permanent position in my backyard for sunny days and balmy evenings, keeping pesky mozzies at bay while I devour my latest book in the sun or under the stars.

The hammock set up is pretty stock standard, with strong 12kN aluminium carabiners and connector loops, while the bug net slides over the outside of the hammock and clips onto a rope tied above the hammock. This ‘Dyneema Hardcord Ridgeline’ is 10m long and 2mm thick, and holds the bug net above head height so you’re not sleeping with it directly on your face all night.

Pro Tip: Test it by lying down and ensure the rope is high and tight enough to ensure there’s no sagging overnight.

The ultralight hammock bug net leaves good space for sag once you get in

When it came to the tarp I was left scratching my head a bit. Despite the tarp set up guide and super in-depth Tarp Field Guide – which offers over 20 ways to set up the tarp – I learned pretty quickly that I’m not a master of knots, and probably should have gone to Scouts. 

After several attempts, I* realised (full disclosure, my colleague Tim pointed this out) that the tarp is completely separate to the hammock and bug net. I was trying to figure out where and how the tarp connected to the hammock/bug net/ridgeline, but it’s actually a standalone product that simply floats above it and is held in place by four guylines (with mirco-line hooks), and the ultralight aluminium pegs. 

You have the choice of setting up a separate ridgeline to thread through the tie-outs, or simply throwing the tarp over your ridgeline if you’re less worried about a bit of wear and tear. It’d be cool to see a more integrated design in the future, as this would save setting up two ridgelines.

Also, it’s worth noting that there aren’t any photos of the tarp in this review, and the reason is simple: all of my photos of it turned out horribly, the dark green is tricky! Plus, it would’ve hidden the rest of the hammock.

You can throw the tarp over this or string a second ridgeline above it

Overall, I highly rate the straightforward design, it’s actually simpler to set up than I initially thought and I love how the neutral green colour blends in with the surrounding nature.

Everything is light, but not so light that it doesn’t feel tough, and the materials used are known for their durability. (Promise to stop leaving it in the sun? – Ed.) There are 23 reinforced tie-outs too, so weight hasn’t been saved at the expense of functionality.

Even if you’re proficient with knots, I recommend purchasing the Tarp Field Guide for the variety of set-up options within; they’ll come in handy when sideways wind and rain threaten to dampen your plans. But maybe pack a mat, they won’t all work with your hammock.

Worth its weight

Performance

First of all, it’s clear from first touch that these are quality and hardy products, particularly the ultralight straps and the tarp.

We’ve watched Alton grow from the beginning and it’s been a delight to see the way they’ve approached design and innovation, constantly refining their products and coming up with fresh, Australian-focused ideas like their ultralight swag. They’re even hiring a Product Development Manager to double down on this.

There were definitely some concerns for a time that some of their products were effectively white-labelled from factories overseas, but this approach appears to be in the past. It was also more contained to accessories, not their core range, like I’m testing here.

A hammock was Alton’s first product

I was initially worried that a 3,000mm hydrostatic head rating on the tarp might not be enough to keep out heavy rain, but then I remembered the recent review of the Mont Moondance 2FN tent, which only has 2,000mm on the fly and it’s bombproof. If you set it up correctly, so water runs off and there aren’t pressure points, you’ll be more than fine.

Durability

As for the hammock, 300kg seems pretty generous and enough to deal with any essential swinging. I recommend adding some tree-protecting foam or towels, though, to prevent inadvertently cutting into any bark. The 2.5cm wide webbing does adhere to Leave No Trace guidelines, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure!

A hammock was actually Alton’s first product, and this one comes very highly-rated. Lightweight hammocks are a dime-a-dozen these days, but you can feel that Alton’s offering has been honed for actual outdoor use. There’s a great video of it being used to push a 2.8 tonne ute with a disclaimer that it was an experiment conducted by professionals, and one dude is wearing thongs. Hell yeah.

The Hammock Bug Net is more of the same. Tough, light, but not so light that it feels flimsy, and straightforward. I think the only issue some might have is the use of the word ‘ultralight’. Ultralight hikers are pretty protective of the word and it’s used liberally by Alton. Some people want to see less than 1kg for a true ultralight tent setup, and this is 1.4kg, but you’d get close by leaving a few pegs and ties behind. BYO trees.

And finally, it’s worth noting that Alton rocks a Lifetime Warranty. Obviously this ‘All Good Guarantee’ comes with a raft of caveats, but if you take care of it and something breaks that shouldn’t, you should be covered.

Easy weight savings if you ditch a few of these

Comfort

For me, there’s nothing quite as relaxing as being slowly rocked by the breeze, either to sleep or just soaking up the sun with a good book. Whether I’m holiday, at home, or (now) out camping, I’m a lover of hammocks, but I understand it’s not for everyone, and there are three main concerns I’ve heard since:

‘Ah, my back couldn’t cope with that.’

Fair, Alton’s offering doesn’t have an asymmetrical shape like the Hennessy, which helps you flatten out. That being said, it’s mostly a technique thing, and Alton has a really in-depth guide to nail your comfort. As the whole setup is modular, you could just buy the hammock and play around with it before committing to the other bits. Worst case is that you have a hammock to lounge in before bed!

You’ll struggle to get me outta this thing

‘What about the weather?’

No dramas! At 3m x 3m, the tarp is huge and totally covers the hammock. You’d have to be expecting the kind of storm that would challenge most tents and be moving away from trees to be concerned. Tucked up under the tarp in the bug net, I felt very protected from the elements.

‘Where do you put your stuff?’

Ok, this one is kind of valid. The easiest way is simply sealing your bag up tightly to keep out animals and leaving it on the ground under the tarp. If the weather’s looking particularly bad, I’ve seen people hang their bag underneath them (which would work fine with the 300kg load), but you’ll need to pack some extra carabiners and rope. And if food and animals are a real concern, there’s a storage pouch inside the bug net, above your head that could hold your most important calories in a pinch.

Super handy detachable storage pouch in the bug net

Sustainability

As far as I can tell, Alton doesn’t really address sustainability. The website’s purpose page says that its purpose is ‘to equip and empower you to go further’ in ‘an ethical and responsible way’, but beyond that things get hazy.

At one point, Alton was offering the option to buy a reusable dry sack instead of a plastic shipping bag. Also the nanopore tech is PFC-free and apparently doesn’t need any DWR. It also pushes the durability = sustainability line, which is true, but not really enough on its own. There’s responsibly-sourced down and bluesign® approved material in some of the clothing, but the tarp and hammock don’t address the impact of their materials at all.

Overall, it’s a bit disappointing to see a brand that’s so rooted in enjoying nature and the outdoors not put a bit more effort into giving back and protecting our wild places, and the lack of transparency is a bit concerning.

Read more: Your Rain Jacket is Probably Harming The Planet – Here’s How That’s Changing

Price

When looking at the full set-up, it’s important to compare it to something like a lightweight tent, as this is well beyond ‘just a hammock’, and as such, compares very competitively to lightweight tents on the market price-wise. 

For me, this will replace my tent or at least offer another option on trips where I’m conscious of weight and know I’ll be comfortable and warm all night long. For $328 in a bundle, that’s very competitive with premium tent brands, and only challenged by cheaper Chinese brands like Lanshan or Tarptent. The tarp itself is cheaper than those from Sea to Summit, Mont, or this DCF jobbo from Hyperlite ($699.95!), even though it’s the most expensive part of the bundle at $185.

A somewhat comparable Hennessy Hammock, which I’ve mentioned a few times, starts at $250, but its tarp (the bulk of Alton’s cost) is smaller and less versatile; you’d only really use it with the hammock. Decisions, decisions.

If you’ve already got a tarp, hammock or both, the bug net is the standout winner at only $59. It’s a fantastic investment in a good night’s sleep, and it’s practical and easy to add to the set-up.

Just make sure you slide the bug net on before you set up the hammock

Final Thoughts

Hammock camping certainly isn’t for everyone, and if you’re unsure, you can purchase the items in the set individually to test out how comfortable you are in the hammock for short periods, and if you think you’d be comfortable overnight. 

The main downside of a hammock camping set-up is exactly where you can set it up. While it’s perfect for uneven or hard rocky surfaces, finding two trees the right size and distance apart isn’t always as straightforward as you expect, and it’s worth noting that hammocks in national parks aren’t actually allowed, and you might end up dealing with grumpy rangers.

I’d also say that a hammock system offers less convenience for the storage of your gear than a tent does. There’s definitely an aesthetic and comfort aspect to the whole thing, I reckon you’ll either love it or hate it.

Overall, Alton’s Ultralight Camping Hammock Set is a great, tough, versatile option for hammock camping in Australia.